The thirteenth annual African American Festival of Academic Excellence will be held on Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Montgomery Blair High School. The focus of the festival is to recognize the academic achievements of approximately 4,000 African American students who have attained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Several scholarships will be awarded to outstanding students.

Among the family-focused events during the daylong program will be a presentation by motivational speaker and attorney Willie E. Gary. Gary draws on his own experiences as one of eleven children in an impoverished family and charts his rise to success through education. He has established the Gary Foundation, which provides scholarships, direction, and resources to support young students. Mr. Gary speaks at schools around the country and hosts a television program called “Education is Power” which encourages children to stay in school.